FT/Orange Spain going to 10M & 14M. Without much publicity, Spain has pulled far ahead of other large nations in fiber homes. The U.S., Italy and France have passed fewer than 25%, Germany and England less than 10%.

Almost all fiber going in recently is GPON or point to point, capable of a gigabit. Older fiber, including millions of Verizon lines of BPON, can generally be upgraded to gigabit for less than $100/connection.

70-year-old Telefónica CEO César Alierta has long believed fiber would pay off in the long run and in the last few years accelerated the deployment. Today's France Telecom is also a fiber believer. Paris is plastered with posters for fiber and the build is accelerating across the country. Orange Spain is shooting for 10M homes passed in 2016 and 14M in 2020.

Telefónica is whining about the new Spanish requirement to resell the fiber in about half the country. As usual, they say they will screw customers in the remaining 25% of the country by cutting investment. Every carrier says that when they don't like what the regulator does. Telefónica Mexico has just threatened to cut investment because of a 1% fine for poor service. With AT&T coming on strong in Mexico,

Nine times out of ten, the carrier doesn't actually change their business and investment plan. That's been clear at Deutsche Telekom, BT, AT&T and Verizon. Telefónica Mexico can't afford to cut investment since AT&T bought into the Mexican market and is expanding aggressively.

1% of annual revenues is considered the minimum in policy circles because anything less would be ignored as petty cash. AT&T and Verizon barely notice a $50M or $100M fine.

Ian Morris at Light Reading pointed me to much of this story. He's optimistic about continued investment to reach the rest of the country.

Orange increases its FTTH coverage ambition in Spain to reach 14 million households by 2020

Madrid, Wednesday, November 4, 2015

The total accumulated investment for the full deployment of Orange’s fiber network in Spain will reach between 1.5 and 1.7 billion euros.

Four months after the acquisition of Jazztel, Orange’s fiber network in Spain already reaches 5.2 million households, and will reach 10 million in 2016 and 14 million by the end of 2020.

As a result, the company will consolidate its position as Europe’s leading alternative operator in terms of fiber coverage.

Orange’s fiber network will cover more than 80% of all Spanish cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants.

In addition, Orange is pursuing its 1.5 billion-euro investment program in its 4G network, in order to reach 95% of the Spanish population in 2017.

Orange has increased its FTTH coverage ambition in Spain with the aim of reaching 4 million additional households by the end of 2020, on top of the 10 million households that the company has already announced for the end of 2016. Orange’s FTTH coverage in Spain today reaches 5.2 million households.As a result, Orange has increased its deployment ambition in Spain by 40%, and will progressively increase its coverage to reach 14 million households by the end of 2020, covering 80% of all Spanish cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants.Only four months after the acquisition of Jazztel, the Orange Group is reinforcing its investments in Spain, consolidating the position of its subsidiary as Europe’s leading alternative operator in terms of fiber coverage. As a result of this deployment program the total accumulated investment in its FTTH network, including all investments already made by Orange and Jazztel, will be between 1.5 and 1.7 billion euros.

Orange, the leading very high speed broadband alternative operator in Spain

In addition to these ambitious FTTH deployment plans, the company is investing 1.5 billion euros in its 4G network, with the aim of reaching 85% of the Spanish population by the end of 2015 and 95% of the Spanish population in 2017. At the end of 2015, Orange’s 4G network will provide coverage in 1,300 cities across Spain.Both deployment programs, in FTTH and 4G networks, are part of Orange's strategy to invest in very high speed broadband networks in order to meet strong demand from customers for content and services.

Orange increases its FTTH coverage ambition in Spain to reach 14 million households by 2020

Madrid, Wednesday, November 4, 2015

The total accumulated investment for the full deployment of Orange’s fiber network in Spain will reach between 1.5 and 1.7 billion euros.

Four months after the acquisition of Jazztel, Orange’s fiber network in Spain already reaches 5.2 million households, and will reach 10 million in 2016 and 14 million by the end of 2020.

As a result, the company will consolidate its position as Europe’s leading alternative operator in terms of fiber coverage.

Orange’s fiber network will cover more than 80% of all Spanish cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants.

In addition, Orange is pursuing its 1.5 billion-euro investment program in its 4G network, in order to reach 95% of the Spanish population in 2017.

Orange has increased its FTTH coverage ambition in Spain with the aim of reaching 4 million additional households by the end of 2020, on top of the 10 million households that the company has already announced for the end of 2016. Orange’s FTTH coverage in Spain today reaches 5.2 million households.As a result, Orange has increased its deployment ambition in Spain by 40%, and will progressively increase its coverage to reach 14 million households by the end of 2020, covering 80% of all Spanish cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants.Only four months after the acquisition of Jazztel, the Orange Group is reinforcing its investments in Spain, consolidating the position of its subsidiary as Europe’s leading alternative operator in terms of fiber coverage. As a result of this deployment program the total accumulated investment in its FTTH network, including all investments already made by Orange and Jazztel, will be between 1.5 and 1.7 billion euros.

Orange, the leading very high speed broadband alternative operator in Spain

In addition to these ambitious FTTH deployment plans, the company is investing 1.5 billion euros in its 4G network, with the aim of reaching 85% of the Spanish population by the end of 2015 and 95% of the Spanish population in 2017. At the end of 2015, Orange’s 4G network will provide coverage in 1,300 cities across Spain.Both deployment programs, in FTTH and 4G networks, are part of Orange's strategy to invest in very high speed broadband networks in order to meet strong demand from customers for content and services.